Sideload Apps that use Google Maps API with this APK hack!

The new adventure of “sideloading” has certainly taken on quite an evolution:

Back since OS 2 of the Playbook and the early days of BB10, we were able to quickly sideload simple apps – but not apps using Android native code.

Along came what has become known as “the xsacha method” to use the DebugToken to sideload apps that use native code, such as Angry Birds

For me, there were still a bunch of apps that didn’t work until AT&T graced me with the OS 10.1 upgrade

Along came the solid 10.2 leak which suddenly opened the door to even more Android apps that required a higher version of the Android OS than the Gingerbread that 10.1 had to offer, e.g. Feedly

But there has still always been a tremendous void. A whole handful of simple apps just would not work. Using Catlog (when it still worked – I believe tighter security in Jelly Bean blocks it from reading logs in 10.2 without root) it was apparent that the failure was due to the apps expecting the Google Maps API which is not baked into BB10’s Android runtime. I had simply resigned myself to the reality that those apps would just never work.

…Until now! I stumbled upon yet another CrackBerry Forum post which lead me to a solution. In a nutshell, the AndroidManifest.xml file contains directives as to which libraries to expect and, more importantly, whether or not they are required. I will document the steps to modify the APK file so that the missing libraries are no longer required. For the purposes of keeping this as brief as possible, I will have to assume you are already familiar with how to obtain an APK and “the xsacha method.”

(Obviously, you need to have Java on the machine for that to work but anyone who’s come this far almost certainly does.)

That’s pretty much it! Foo2-signed.apk is now ready to run through the standard APK-to-BAR conversion process and sideload to your device. I’ve used this method to successfully sideload and run apps such as Dunkin Donuts, 7-Eleven and Geico. It should be noted that these apps do contain functionality that relies on Google Maps (such as “Find the nearest …”) and if you try those, the app will crash. Have fun! DFTBA!

Thanks for the method!
Unfortunatly it doesn’t work with some apps! i tried it on Grindr and it didn’t work! I no longer have the -9 failure (failure -104 instead O_o) but i launch the app it says it’s not responding and prompts to close!

OK! I think I figured out something!
I tried a new app that used to give me the same error before (failure -9), i followed the steps and when I got to the “AndroidManifest.xml” I found this line and I had to add this line android:required=“false”/> and it worked! I can’t change location because it forces close! but works very fine!

With the previous app (see comment below) when I got to AndroidManifest.xml I find this line and changed true to false, and that’s where i think it fails! because I guess if this line is there it because it needed the api in order to work!

hey guys! i’m trying to make all this since two days and…. nothing with my mac i can’t find a way to make it work!
the apktool couldn’t find the files even if i put the whole path and… decompressind the file with unarchiver i can’t find the line of google maps….
may i ask if someone could send me the files to sideload?
thanx

oh thanks if you could do it it should be great
i’d like for Planet romeo, hornet, scruff and bender, i wanted to do it for all the applications except grindr that won’t work….. if you have the files already you can send me by mail or skype…
really kind.

The problem is that i’m not able to make the process i tried hundred times in these days but nothing the apktool seems no working on my Mac!
I tried to install scruff but it crushes and though with this method make it workin…

It will be fantastic! I’ve just downloaded bender……just didn’t know it was avable on BB World!….i though it was avable with the new OS 10.2…tell me how can i recive the apps from you!!!!!
Really happy you can help me!

The repackaging always fails for me, if I try to repackage without changing anything in the folder it works, as soon as I apply the following line:
I get an error message starting with error: Error parsing XML: not well-formed (invalid token) and a lot more than just that.
I tried 2 files with error 9 and when I try to fix the google.maps part I get the same error message trying to repackage the folder back to apk, what am I doing wrong?

Hopefully you guys have found – and continue to find – this hack useful. Just used it myself to get the very useful Key Ring app to work. (And also got myself a free small coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts last week thanks to the app!)

I’ve just added – replaced, I should say – a step to make this a wee bit easier. I’ve edited the post and the new step is marked NEW. Basically, it takes out one of the Command Line steps and replaces it with a drag-and-drop.